The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-11
SCANDAL AFTER DEATH.


Ex-Congressman Hezekiah b. Smith Said to
Have Had Two Wives-A Queer History.
Philadelphia Press.
The will of e8-Congressman Hezekiah B.
Smith, read yesterday, in his late handsome
home at Smithville, near Mount Holly. n j.. in
the presence of his friends, made no mention OF
a wife that he is said to have left in Vermont.
and who may put in claim for her share of the
estate, and in doing SO attempt to prove that the
wealthy bicycle manufacturer was bieamist.
Mr.. Smith, whose acknowledged wife died
three or four years ago, was seventy years DID,
The Vermont woman, who, according to the
story. bore him three sons and daughter, is
now about the same age The ex-Congressman
died on Wednesday last. and buried
Monday. His matrimonial adventures began to
be talked about soon as he was laid TO rest
and what used to be a political campaign story
against him to the effect that he had couple of
contemporaneous wives, whom he kept in differ
ent States in the interests of domestic harmony.
was at once revived. Though there is actual
proof of the existence of two marriage certif
icates, some of his friends admit that he recog
nzed both women as his wives.
They say, however. that MIR. Smith, who was
a willy man. with good business head upon his
shoulders, would not have been likely to put
himself in the grasp of the law by the indscre-
tion of a double marriage. Then the question
arises IS to which of she two that spoken of
as bearing the title it really belongs. If he was
married to the first Mrs. Smith the ceremony
with the second was illegal and did not constl-
tute matrimony. The second bearer of the title
was beautiful woman, and much liked in Mt.
Holly, where she did great deal of good. 1t is
said that her husband educated her when she
was young, and bestowed upon her those ac-
complisbments necessary to modern young
women He took her out of a humble condi-
ton in life, but whether with the object of fit
ting her to be his wife cannot now be said. Her
husband a rough kind of man with little
education. He seems to have been good
friend to those he liked and dangerous enemy
to those he did not His acknowledged wife
acted good brake upon him. and repaid the
trouble and expense he had gone to in educat-
ing her by molding him and making him bet
ter man.
Mr.. Smith came from Vermont to Mount
Holly about twenty two years ago with a little
money He started soon in the business of
manufacturing bicycles At his death he owned
a large factory, employing 300 men and turning
out a first-class style of machine. His place of
business cost him about $500 900. but it does not
represent anything like that sum now. because
he had good deal Of plant that barely earned
per cent on the investment
Smithville, where his place and factory were.
idea of his It was his scheme that
residence superior to his own should be erected
on the land he owned. It is said his workmen
had to vote as he dictated leave his
employ. Many of them. it is said, were charac-
tiers to whom he had taken a liking in some way
or other, but who were OF no earthly use from a
laborng artistic standpoint.
Mr.. Smiths triumph of eccentricity was free
bar, billiard and card-room next door to his
house To this resort his friends could go and
order drinks without paying for them. Behind
the bar full stock of the different kinds of
beer and spirits, and rousing drink could be
taken without any demand from any one for
cent. This was the most popular thing the old
gentleman ever did. and it probably added much
to his political influence. Mount Hollyites can
not say how many Of the Congressman's votes
nents of his who had been converted by his hos
pitaity. The only passport to the liquor was
that the candidate for free drinks should
be tolerably decent sort of fellow and should
go to the bar with one of the owners friends
"Why. could take a dozen chaps there and
give them all slug" declared Smithville cit
fvnr tar6n I tNrrr D1A 1nxr
Mr.. Smith left his factory in trust for the
m aintenance of a school for the education and
training OF young men in the industrial arts.
The business will be administered by nine
trustees. Some of his neighbors insist that be
intended to perpetuate the free bar-room, on the
ground that It had done much to build up Mt
Holly, and attract strangers there to buy lots.
The people concerned in the drawing up of the
will, however reply that If Mr.. Smith ever did
have such a design. he never asked that it be
put in his last testament. They say that the
abolition of the bar-room may be blow to Mt
Holly, but that it will no general emigra-
ton from that peaceful and attractive city.
To return to the wives. The first Mrs. Smith,
it is said, given So 900 to pacify her when
her husband married again, and that she lived
on the interest earned by that sum. The allow
ance prevented her from bothering the manu-
facturer with any claims for matrimonial recog-
milton. Her children are Eugene, now about
forty years old, resident in Savannah, Ga, two |
other sons, one living in this State, and daugh
ter who is said to have received $40. 900 from b er
father when she married, besides the cost of her |
wedding outfit. A few years ago Eugene went |
to Mount Holly disguised q cripple to find out |
how well off Smith He afterwards went to |
live with the old gentleman but the current wife |
objected to him. and he left. Some time before |
his decease MIR. Smith acknowledged to some |
one that the children were his, but declared that
their mother had given him release of all claim |
against him. This, of course. would imply that
she not formally his wife.
Mark r. Sooy acted for Mr.. Smith in a suit |
brought by a man named Pressly, former
partner against the Congressman's manufactur-
rs
profits. Mr. Sooy said, yesterday afternoon:
lit is not true that l drew up the will, al
though the man who did was not a lawyer. No
one will ever know whether Smith was really
married twice or not There has been a search
ing investigation into the whole affair, and we
could not prove anything definite"
Mr.. Sooy further said that he thought the
will would not be broken. although if she could
prove her claim the Vermont widow would be
allowed her dover. He thought that the scan
lal surrounding the dead man should be buried
with him.